Brady Law

When James Carville said ,"It's the economy, stupid," it wasn't meant to insult anyone. It was to emphasize a point that should be obvious, but had instead been obscured by over-complication. We need to apply that same sense of pragmatism to the national conversation about guns.

For years the NRA has actively fought against and prevented research on the causes and costs of gun violence. Why have we put up so long with efforts to block all research on a huge public health threat that injures and kills tens of thousands of Americans every year?

The Brady Law, named for my husband after he was shot in the 1981 attempt to assassinate President Reagan, required background checks for gun purchases from licensed gun dealers. Most private sales, including those at gun shows, don't require background checks. That's insanity.

Gun violence is contrary to the will of God, and thus we are called to do what we can to change the reality of our circumstances so that moviegoers and school children no longer have to be afraid of living in a violent world.

Cars don't kill people. And we all accept the common sense rules around car ownership and driving. Why do people not interpret these laws as infringing on their rights? Because these are rational ideas and for the common good.

If President Obama truly wants a system that no longer allows countless violent criminals to "effortlessly" avoid background checks, eventually he will have no choice but to confront the NRA, and defeat it.

After a month of silence following the horrifying Tucson shootings, the NRA's "top gun," Wayne LaPierre, returned to his old talking points before CPAC this week. "These clowns want to ban magazines?" La Pierre raged, "Are you kidding me?"

On January 7, we wrote a blog celebrating the third anniversary of a law passed to prevent people with disqualifying mental health records from buying guns. The next day, the mass shooting in Tucson happened.

Yesterday, the Crime Sub-Committee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee hosted a forum on legislation to close the loophole that allows "private sellers" of firearms to bypass Brady background checks at gun shows.

Maybe Kagan is no Lady Gaga when it comes to fashion. But for most Americans, the way Kagan outfits herself is just fine. What's in her mind and her heart are far more important than what's on her back, neck, or her ring finger.

On this day 29 years ago, a robust, warm, funny, clever man took a bullet intended for the President. Back then, this happened because we made it too easy in America for dangerous people to get dangerous guns. We still do.